I docked at the Temple and as I opened my Manticore's doors I saw his familiar face.
"Hey Apo, it's me again."
"It's nice to see you back my friend"
"I told you I'll be back and with the good stuff from earth!"

I opened my cargo bay as Apotamo and his aids waited with curious excitement.
"Tadah! My beloved country's finest. Come and see."
" Seems like we're in for a big party my friend."

I motioned his aids to help me unload my cargo. The first box contained...
"It's roasted pig or we call it lechon de leche."
"Hmmm. It smells delicious! I never tasted roasted pig like this in my entire priest life! Is there more?"
"Of course my friend. Ther's lots of them for all of you. It came from Cebu."
"Must be a great place to live in!"
"Even after the Syrtis war my country managed to stay alive. We don't sulk in sorrow for we Filipinos are happy folks you know."
I winked and smiled as he ushers the others to help carry dozens of my tasty treats to their Grand Hall's tables.

"What are those? Eggs?"
"These are called balut or duck eggs cooked before it hatches. Here I'll show you how to eat this."

Everybody stared as I cracked one.
"First you sip the broth...."
".....then you take out the baby duckling out and eat it whole....like this."

Apotamo watched with a bit of something along with the others as I gobbled it down in my mouth. They don't seem to like it.
"I'll try it."

Apotamo takes one egg and then did as I demonstrated then...
"Wow, Erik my friend. It's the best egg delicacy I've ever tasted! Its very very good!"

"What are those spiky fruits you have there?"
"It's durian. Taste like heaven but smells like hell they say."
They all covered their noses as the stink slowly got to them. I laughed a bit but I find them really interested in it so I taught them how to open and eat the fruit and disregard the smell. They all enjoyed it.

"Apo you wouldn't want to miss tasting this one. Mangoes. The best in the planet. Grown everywhere in the Philippines but these are the sweetest. It came from the volcanic island of Guimaras."
"It really is the sweetest!"

I gave them all a crateful with dried mangoes and all other fruits I smuggled(galactic tax is a drag) past the stargates customs. Ther's mandarins, coconut, mangosteens, lanzones, and other tropical fruits my cargo can carry.
I gave them adobong pusit, chicken adobo, beef and pork adobo, menudo, mechado and lots of other cooked food I know they'd love.

"What can I give you in return my friend?"
"Nothing. We Pinoys love to party and I just wanna see Huaris have fun! Music!"
"Thank you Erik. It's been a long while since we had a celebration here. The Sungs...."

He fell silent.
"I still have crates unopened and it's just for you."
"What is it?"

I show him bottles of palm liquor.
"These are Lambanog. Let's drink and be merry!"

The music of drums filled the halls of the Temple and reverberated throughout Huaramarca space. I know it's a celebration they wouldn't forget. It may also be their last. I can't forget the day Apotamo revealed his dream to me.....